The Keep, an old-school first person dungeon crawler with real-time combat for Nintendo Switch™ system is available in Nintendo eShop.

What is The Keep?

The Keep is a modern take on old-school dungeon crawlers like Dungeon Master, Etrian Odyssey, Eye of Beholder or Wizardry. The basic concept of The Keep is simple: explore the dungeons in the first-person perspective, fight monsters with magic and weapons, solve puzzles, evolve your character. It was first launched successfully for 3DS in 2014, then for PC (Steam) in 2017 and now it’s coming to Nintendo Switch - with a lot of improvements in graphics and gameplay. Every version of the game was carefully crafted to suit the specifics of each platform including Switch version.

What’s new in Switch version of the game?

Due to the specifics of the platform, the team had to invent a completely new control scheme for Switch platform, which enabled to retain complexity and tactical nature of the combat and magic and ad the same time was perfectly comfortable to the players.

There's also whole new part of the game - training grounds, where you can train your hero throughout the game and be prepared to challenge which awaits you later in the games.

Cinemax team also worked hard on improving graphics, animations and game design features in response to players feedback to previous versions.

Getting started

Reviews 3DS

90

Darkain Arts Gamers

Sep 12, 2014

This game is hands down one of the best eShop titles to come this year and is definitely one that you should pick up if you enjoy this type of game. You won’t regret it.

An old-school dungeon crawler with real-time combat.

Storyline

Many have been mesmerized by the blue depths of the Crystals. Those who tried to control them became their slaves. The weak were killed and the strong broken. With ancient knowledge of magic rediscovered old terrors found their way into the Realm and a new nefarious wizard came into being.

While the Council hides behind thick stone walls and ignores the Darkness sweeping across the Realm a young warrior comes to face the wizard. He is certainly not the first one to do so ...

Enter the Keep as an unsung hero on a quest to destroy the nefarious wizard Watrys. Explore the subterranean depths in this first-person dungeon crawler featuring real-time combat, a unique rune magic system, exploration, and puzzle solving. This game will awaken memories of what made old-school RPG dungeons so much fun to play while you fight, hunt for hidden treasures, and avoid deadly traps. Get to know your enemies, find their weaknesses, and crush them. Experiment with magic to discover powerful spells. Only the strongest will survive.

To defeat the seemingly undefeatable Watrys, you will need to level up your character and find powerful armor and weapons. The game controls were designed with a stylus in mind so mastering both sword and magic is a fun and intuitive experience.

Do you have what it takes to stand against such evil?Then don’t procrastinate and enter. The Keep awaits you ...

Features

An old-school first-person dungeon crawler with a modern twist.

Exploring and puzzle solving—the caves and dungeons are full of surprises. There will be deadly traps, elaborate mechanisms guarding secret passages, trapdoors and treasures with powerful weapons and supplies.

Real-time combat—a battle against enemies with a gesture based combat, but swiping horizontally or diagonally is not enough. Defeating enemies means that you have to break their defences hitting the upper or lower body or focusing on their head. Every enemy requires different strategy and every weapon class offers unique combos.

Rune magic—you can rearrange runes on a 5×4 board and then chain them together to cast powerful elemental magic (Fire, Ice or Lightning). Runes are scarce but there are a lot of spells, so be careful to pick the right combinations.

3 difficulty. The Keep will offer something for newbies in the genre, seasoned adventurers and for those who like to tackle with proper challenge—every difficulty level will have a Permadeath option.

Every enemy requires different strategy and every weapon class offers unique combos.

Captivating soundtrack

English voiceovers with localized in-game text to seven languages: English, German, French and Czech.

Basics

Level

You gain level experience from killing enemies, rescuing children and finding exits.

Examine mode

In this mode, you can use the touch screen to manipulate objects in your environment freely. You can push buttons, pull levers, pick up and throw items etc. You can also view the map on the touch screen.

Combat mode

This is the mode you use when attacking enemies.

Casting mode

In this mode, you can cast your spells. First, you have to find a scroll and learn the incantation. Then you have to move the appropriate runes to the Magic Matrix and across them to cast the spell.

Equip mode

Use this mode to equip items. All you have to do is drag the item you want to equip on the appropriate equipment slot.

Hero’s head

If you want to replenish your Health, Mana or Stamina quickly, drag the appropriate potion over the hero’s head and lift the stylus from the touch screen.

Health

The health bar shows how much life you currently have. Each time you get hit, your Health decreases. If the bar is empty, you die. Health regenerates slowly over time, but you can also drink a healing potion.

Combat

Combat mode

This is the mode you use when attacking enemies.

Melee skill

Melee skill increases your chance to hit with a melee attack.

Strength

Strength determines your Health and the power of your attacks.

Dexterity

Stamina

The stamina bar shows your current fighting capacity. Each time you attack, your Stamina decreases. If the bar is empty, you can’t perform standard weapon attacks anymore. Stamina regenerates slowly over time, but you can also drink a stamina potion.

Concentration / Combo points

You gain concentration from successful weapon hits. You can use it to start devastating combo strikes. The number of available combo strikes increases with Melee level. Different combo strikes are available for each weapon class. Higher combo strikes require more concentration. Combo attacks are different for each weapon type and don’t require Stamina.

Basic attack

Available with any weapon or a torch equiped or even without any weapon.

Combos

Repelling Strike

A resolute attack aimed at the lower hit zone. Required a dagger and 1 combo point.

Heavy Strike

A massive strike that strikes all hit zones. It deals twice as much damage when the enemy is at full health. It also increases your critical hit chance by 25%. Required a dagger and 2 combo points.

Bold Thrust

A thrust that strikes the center hit zone once and the high hit zone twice. It also increases your critical hit chance by 25%. Required a dagger and 3 combo points.

Carving Lesson

An elaborate attack that strikes all hit zones. It also increases your critical hit chance by 50%. Required a dagger and 4 combo points.

Downward Slash

A forceful blow that strikes all hit zones. It also increases your critical hit chance by 50%. Required a sword and 1 combo point.

Vampire Fangs

This attack drains the life energy from your opponent and may restore a small amount of your Health. Required a sword and 2 combo points.

Precise Cut

This attack hits the target three times. It deals twice as much damage when the enemy is at full health. Required a sword and 3 combo points.

Avenger’s Swing

This legendary attack stuns its target. Required a sword and 4 combo points.

Aggressive Swipe

This powerful swipe strikes both the high and the center hit zone. Required an axe and 1 combo point.

Grounding Strike

This attack deals damage and has a chance to stun the target. Required an axe and 2 combo points.

Berserker Blow

This violent blow critically hits its target if the target is below 50% Health. Required an axe and 3 combo points.

Revenge Strike

This complex strike deals damage to your enemy and restores some of your Health. Required an axe and 4 combo points.

Spellcasting

Casting mode

In this mode, you can cast your spells. First, you have to find a scroll and learn the incantation. Then you have to move the appropriate runes to the Magic Matrix and across them to cast the spell.

Spellcasting skill

Spellcasting increases your chance to hit with a spell.

Intelligence

Intelligence determines your Mana and the power of your spells.

Mana

The mana bar shows how much magic energy you currently have. Whenever you cast a spell, your Mana decreases. Mana regenerates slowly over time, but you can also drink a mana potion.

Scrolls

Scroll of Healing

This spell restores 25 Health.

Scroll of Cure

Restores 4 Health every 3 seconds for 30 seconds.

Scroll of Transmutation

This spell converts some of your Health to Mana. Use it at your own risk.

Scroll of Silence

Silences your target and prevents it from casting spells for 9 seconds.

Scroll of Stun

Stuns the target for 7 seconds.

Scroll of Fireball

Hurls a fiery ball that deals 15 to 25 fire damage. Some enemies are more vulnerable to fire while others are immune to this element.